Wichita Falls mayor: No one wants to see ripped up campaign signs

A Facebook user posted Wednesday morning a photo of a torn Lowry Crane campaign sign. Crane is running against Wichita Falls Mayor Stephen Santellana, who shared the post and, while pondering if the photo was staged, said this "is upsetting to me. Signs are not cheap and the effort to place them around Wichita Falls is not easy."(Photo: Torin Halsey/Times Record News)Buy Photo

A campaign sign for Wichita Falls mayoral candidate Lowry Crane is pictured torn to pieces across a green lawn, the yellow-and-black parts scattered near an untouched campaign sign for an incumbent school board member.

"An opposition's supporter is getting nervous," posted Ed Stein, on a page titled Wichita Falls Citizen Advocate. Stein previously posted a similar yellow-and-black "It's OK to Vote No on Bond" sign as his profile photo in May, at a time when the city of Wichita Falls proposed a $131 million bond.

"Seriously, some incumbent's goon was in my yard? I don't know what's worse. Being in my yard or being intimidated by Lowry Wayne Crane for mayor?" A search of Wichita County properties found a person by that name in the Floral Heights neighborhood.

"Goons? I don't have any goons," Mayor Stephen Santellana told the Times Record News.

"This looks staged, but if it isn’t, then it is upsetting to me. Signs are not cheap and the effort to place them around Wichita Falls is not easy," the mayor posted. "Every year this happens to candidates and people need to realize that it takes a lot to put your name in a hat to run for office. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Lowry Wayne Crane and the fact that he (is) running."

A call to a number associated with Crane went to an automated reply saying the mailbox had not been set up to receive messages.

The destruction "seems to be a normal part of politics these days," Santellana said, "but no one advocates for that. I don't."

He said he was especially upset because of his admiration for Crane and for his willingness to serve.

"He works hard for his money and this isn't cheap." Santellana said.

In campaign finance reports obtained by the Times Record News, Santellana listed a $3,897.50 expense for signs. Crane cited $350 in expenses, but did not specify how the money was spent.

The mayor said he's seen similar antics aimed at those he's supported in previous elections, going so far as telling a family member that using the candidate's photo on a sign will more likely result in someone drawing on his face.

"No side is a fan of this," he told the newspaper. "I don't like this being brought to light. I don't when it happens to me. Now the public doesn't see two people willing to run for public office. We're too tight, too close as a community, for this."